Practice Your Presentations -- Four Suggestions of Ways to Do It
I always stress the importance of "practice, practice, practice.
" But, where do I find places to practice?" Good question.
Some start by practicing in front of a mirror, but I have always found this to be unsettling and not at all the same as speaking to a group.
So, I suggest speaking to a live audience and in this article, I share where to find some live audiences while you are perfecting your presentation skills.
Join a Toastmasters International Club.
Attend and take part regularly.
Toastmasters' groups across the world have given members a chance to become excellent and comfortable speakers.
You receive a well written manual to work from, positive reinforcement from the group, and a chance to speak in one capacity or another every week.
I found the people involved to be some of the finest people I've ever met -- always willing to help each other improve.
There are leadership clubs for the advanced speaker and opportunities to present at conferences (see the next section).
Propose a workshop and/or presentation for your group's upcoming conference and/or convention.
Most organizations and associations have local conferences, regional conferences, and national conventions.
I find that most are looking for good workshops for these events, and many are pleased to use members for the presentations.
I started by proposing and giving workshops at our Toastmasters' District conferences.
This was a great learning experience and a way to become known as a presenter.
Next, I proposed and presented at several Regional Conferences, so became more comfortable and even better known.
Finally, I was asked to present one of the workshops that had been a winner at both the district and regional conferences at the International Convention.
By the time I got to this level, I had ironed out the kinks and felt confident about my performance.
Since that time, I have given a similar workshop at other group's conferences.
Volunteer to become a member of a Speakers' Bureau.
I am not referring here to the type of Speakers' Bureaus that place speakers for a fee.
I am referring to group speakers' bureaus that serve a community purpose.
For example, there are speakers with bureaus who share information about an organization, a region, a college and/or college topics, and causes.
For example, I volunteered to become a speaker for the Cleveland Growth Association.
We auditioned and then, when chosen, were given assignments.
One talk involved a slide presentation about all of the great places to visit in Cleveland with a running dialogue including interesting information about those places.
Rather than using and reading the script, I did research and created my own presentation of the slides.
So, get out there and start practicing.
" But, where do I find places to practice?" Good question.
Some start by practicing in front of a mirror, but I have always found this to be unsettling and not at all the same as speaking to a group.
So, I suggest speaking to a live audience and in this article, I share where to find some live audiences while you are perfecting your presentation skills.
Join a Toastmasters International Club.
Attend and take part regularly.
Toastmasters' groups across the world have given members a chance to become excellent and comfortable speakers.
You receive a well written manual to work from, positive reinforcement from the group, and a chance to speak in one capacity or another every week.
I found the people involved to be some of the finest people I've ever met -- always willing to help each other improve.
There are leadership clubs for the advanced speaker and opportunities to present at conferences (see the next section).
Propose a workshop and/or presentation for your group's upcoming conference and/or convention.
Most organizations and associations have local conferences, regional conferences, and national conventions.
I find that most are looking for good workshops for these events, and many are pleased to use members for the presentations.
I started by proposing and giving workshops at our Toastmasters' District conferences.
This was a great learning experience and a way to become known as a presenter.
Next, I proposed and presented at several Regional Conferences, so became more comfortable and even better known.
Finally, I was asked to present one of the workshops that had been a winner at both the district and regional conferences at the International Convention.
By the time I got to this level, I had ironed out the kinks and felt confident about my performance.
Since that time, I have given a similar workshop at other group's conferences.
Volunteer to become a member of a Speakers' Bureau.
I am not referring here to the type of Speakers' Bureaus that place speakers for a fee.
I am referring to group speakers' bureaus that serve a community purpose.
For example, there are speakers with bureaus who share information about an organization, a region, a college and/or college topics, and causes.
For example, I volunteered to become a speaker for the Cleveland Growth Association.
We auditioned and then, when chosen, were given assignments.
One talk involved a slide presentation about all of the great places to visit in Cleveland with a running dialogue including interesting information about those places.
Rather than using and reading the script, I did research and created my own presentation of the slides.
So, get out there and start practicing.